Casting a discreet glance at Utaha, who was sitting sideways on the grass beside her, absently nibbling on a chicken rice ball, Yoshikawa Yuki's lips curved slightly. She lightly nudged Hori Kyoko sitting on the other side, leaning close to "Mama Hori's" ear to whisper,
"Kyoko, look at Utaha's state. Any thoughts?"
"Hmm... thoughts, huh?" Lifting her gaze, Kyoko observed for a few seconds before leaning seriously into Yuki's ear, who was smiling like a fox that'd just stolen a chicken. In a solemn tone, she said, "I seem to see a young maiden pining for a certain someone~"
"Oh? Mama Hori has a sharp eye." Yuki returned an approving glance, then, keeping her eyes on the still-distracted Utaha, whispered, "Isn't today the first time Miyahito's ever skipped school?"
"Yep, exactly." Her smile deepening, Kyoko set down her bento box and crossed her arms. "Just one day apart and she's like this."
"Tsk tsk, a certain Prince is truly a bad influence."
"Tell me about it. Tooru is just too far behind."
"Sigh, nothing can be done about Tooru. He just lacks the talent."
"...Yuki I can understand, but why is even Mama Hori so invested in teasing me now?"
Utaha's sudden interjection instantly shut the two girls up. Their teasing gazes landed on the helpless "dear Utaha," who offered nothing but a silent, knowing smile.
"Sigh, you're exaggerating way too much." Letting out a deeply exasperated sigh, Utaha happened to look up and meet their meaningful stares. She paused, then guiltily averted her gaze, offering a weak rebuttal.
"I was just wondering why this rice ball tastes so bad... It has absolutely nothing to do with Miyahito-kun."
"Oh my." Catching the keyword, Yuki dragged out her tone, her gaze locking onto the guilty Utaha who refused to meet her eyes. She enunciated carefully, "Yuki and I never mentioned Miyahito-kun's name, Utaha."
The moment those words left her lips, Utaha's hands instantly froze.
Seeing this, Yuki and Kyoko exchanged a knowing smile.
Hehe, Utaha-san is just too cute like this.
Having had their fun teasing, Yuki asked, "So, Utaha. What stage are you and Miyahito at now?"
Picking up a box of lemon tea—sponsored by a certain Mr. Ishikawa who'd ditched the girls for a boys' lunch outing—Kyoko delivered a bombshell with a completely deadpan expression.
"Are you dating?"
"!"
Utaha froze completely, staring wide-eyed at the calm Kyoko, then at the snickering Yuki beside her. She forced herself to answer with feigned composure.
"N-n-no way! Miyahito and I are d-d-definitely not in that kind of relationship!"
Whoa, she's seriously rattled.
Noticing Utaha's trembling hands barely holding her strawberry milk, Kyoko and Yuki exchanged a glance, both thinking the exact same thing.
However, instead of changing the subject to spare Utaha's sanity, Yuki decided to strike again.
"Mou, Miyahito is really slow, isn't he? He still hasn't confessed?"
"Just how long does he plan to drag out this 'more than friends, less than lovers' phase?"
At those words, Utaha completely lost her cool.
"I... Miyahito... I..."
"Alright, alright, Utaha." Smiling, Kyoko gently calmed the flustered girl. "We've all seen it coming for a while now."
"No need to try and fool us."
"Mhm, but." Seizing the moment, Yuki added with a mischievous grin. "Kyoko and I thought you and Miyahito would get together by the end of this semester. Who would've guessed~~"
"It really is just like Miyani's new song, More Than Friends, Less Than Lovers."
Looking at Kyoko's blank face and Utaha's guilty expression, Yuki asked helplessly. "Wait, you two haven't even listened to Miyani's new track from a few days ago?"
Both Kyoko and Utaha shook their heads in unison.
Resigned, Yuki pulled out her phone, opened a music app, and placed it in the center of their circle. The next second, a light, upbeat melody began to play.
"What do you really think of me?
I'm the only one left wondering.
Suppressing these feelings of affection.
Every time you treat me gently, happiness is always tinged with a little heartache.
Hey, on a night like this, what's going on?
Suddenly saying you want to see me.
Leaving me foolishly hopeful.
Hey, why did you say something like that?
Making me want to confess that I like you..."
The song wasn't long, just over four minutes including the intro. But for some reason, Utaha felt like she saw her own reflection in the lyrics.
I like you.
But I don't dare to say it.
I can only bite back my frustration, foolishly and carefully guarding this easily crossed boundary between us.
"This song is really good." Oblivious to Utaha's silence, Kyoko snapped out of the musical afterglow and asked Yuki, who wore a doting smile. "Why does it feel like this song is all about unrequited love?"
"Mhm, you're not the only one." Wearing a classic "knowing auntie" smile, Yuki opened the comment section on her phone and showed it to Kyoko. "A lot of Miyani's fans are already hunting for info on his 'secret crush.'"
"Wow, Miyani is really popular, huh."
"Yeah, yeah!" Yuki nodded rapidly, her expression full of admiration. "I highly recommend you listen to Miyani-sensei's songs, Kyoko. Every single one is amazing!"
"Really?" Kyoko smiled, but then a sudden thought struck her... The singing voice she just heard felt strangely familiar.
"Hey, Yuki."
"Yeah?"
"Why does the song you just played sound kinda familiar?"
"Huh?" Sensing her confusion, Yuki turned to look at Kyoko, who was deep in thought. "Familiar how?"
"Umm... never mind." Figuring it out, Kyoko smiled. "When I heard Miyani sing the word 'like,' the vocal tail end sounded exactly like how Miyahito sang once during music class."
"But come to think of it, the singer just now was female, and Miyahito's a guy."
"Actually, no. Miyani-sensei is a guy." Yuki chuckled, correcting her, then added, "But you're right about one thing, Kyoko."
"There's no way Miyahito is Miyani-sensei. Even though their names sound similar, how could such a fantastical trope happen in reality?"
"True...."
However, as the conversation shifted to Yuki recommending "Miyani's classic tracks" to Kyoko, neither of them noticed.
When Kyoko mentioned that "the way Miyahito trails off when he sings 'like' sounds exactly like Miyani's," a look of sheer disbelief flashed across Utaha's face.
Miyahito is "Miyani"?
How is that even possible!?
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